Kobe ‘wasn’t even there’ for pick-up game at UCLA

SANTA BARBARA >> So much for the excitement over Kobe Bryant’s pick-up game at UCLA. A Bruins official immediately refuted reports from its own administrators that suggested Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Love played in a game. But Bryant also refuted what an UCLA official said about his own attendance.

“It seems like if I want to get an accurate sports source, I have to go to TMZ,” Bryant said sarcastically about the sports gossip Web site. “I wasn’t even there. I was in Orange County.”

It apparently is not out of the possibility that Bryant would play in a pick-up game.

Bryant reiterated on Wednesday at his basketball camp here at Santa Barbara that he feels fully recovered from injuries to his left Achilles tendon and left knee that limited him last season to six games. He also reported currently weighing in at 218 pounds, which he says mirrors his weight during the season.

“I’ll lean down some more,” Bryant said. “Physically I feel great. I don’t think about the knee at all when I train. I don’t think about the Achilles at all when I train. I feel sharp, crisp. Now it’s just time to add on from there.”

Voice of support

The Lakers have not provided clarity on when they will hire a coach, adamant they want to find a candidate once they fill out their roster. But Byron Scott appears the favorite, the lone candidate thus far to have two in-person interviews.

In addition to spending 10 of his 14-year NBA career with the Lakers, Scott had head-coaching stints with the New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers. Scott also provided a mentorship role for Bryant during his rookie season of 1996-97.

“We’ve had a tremendously close relationship throughout the years,” said Bryant, who added he would support the possible hire. “Obviously I know him extremely well. He knows me extremely well. I’ve always been a fan of his.”

Great expectations

It did not take long for Bryant to follow Lakers rookie forward Julius Randle on Twitter. It happened within minutes after the Lakers selected Randle two weeks ago with the seventh overall in the NBA Draft. Perhaps because Bryant likes what he described as Randle’s “tenacity and competitive spirit” that produced 24 double-doubles in his lone season at the University of Kentucky.

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“He has the tools,” Bryant said of Randle. “He can handle the ball and make plays with the ball and shoot the ball. Now it’s on us to make sure he fully develops to reach his full potential.”